"Incredible competitive season and is one of the most consistent riders I have seen. He deserves rookie for absolutely sending it and coming out on top or podium in a lot of tough contests." - Danny Davis

"Back to back 1620's under pressure at the US open slope is enough to proves he deserves to be where he is. Not to mention all his other podiums throughout the 2015 shred year." - Mark Sollors

Photo: Aaron Blatt

"A 'rookie' with the most messed up contest resume ever. His US open take over with the Triple cork combo was thing of legend." - Pat Moore

Photo: Aaron Blatt

Yuki Kadono had one hell of a year. The young Japanese phenom started off with a win at the Air & Style in Beijing, China, landed on the podium at X Games slopestyle, and then stunned the world with what is widely considered the greatest slopestyle run in competitive snowboarding history. Yuki capped off said run with back-to-back triple cork 1620s and the clip was shared, viewed and looped millions of times. Oh, also of note is that it was enough to knock Mark McMorris, the best slopestyle rider on earth, off the podium. His U.S. Open win in Vail, Colorado stunned the world, but to those who had witnessed Yuki’s on-hill feats in years prior, it was likely no surprise at all. Oh, and did we mention that he was only eighteen years old? We were reminded by multi-time ROTY member, Eddie Wall when he said, “At 18 years old he landed a trick that has never been stomped in the history of our sport. A switch backside 1620 at Air & Style. Then he goes to the U.S. Open and does the trick back to back...He's 18! If that doesn't qualify you for Rookie of the Year, I don't know what does.” British Columbia backcountry badass Annie Boulanger can attest to that, as she voted for Yuki and only gave a two-word descriptor, saying, “So amazing.” Chas Guldemond is familiar with the U.S. Open slopestyle as he’s one of the more seasoned competitors that makes the March migration to Vail, Colorado and Yuki undoubtedly had his vote for Rookie of the Year, as Chas stated, “Yuki came in hot this year with some huge podiums! He blew everyone's heads off at the U.S. Open! Back to back triple 16s. Are you fucking kidding me?” Well Chas, we’re here to tell you that we’re not kidding you. Yuki is that good, the world now knows it, and only time will tell what the young Japanese rider’s career will produce but if we’re using young Japanese kids who shock the world at the U.S. Open [Read: Kazu Kokubo] as an example, we think that Yuki has a long and successful journey ahead of him.

At its core, this ranking is intended to celebrate the riders who were the most exceptional professional snowboarders from December 1st, 2014 to November 31st, 2015. These riders are recognized for the fundamental responsibilities of being a professional snowboarder. This is based strictly upon the amount and quality of video parts, contest results and magazine coverage with an emphasis on diversity of terrain and discipline variance. Ideally, this process brings us to the individuals who most influenced the progression of snowboarding on a consistent basis over the course of this past season.

For 2016, our Rider of the Year award rollout will once again be an exclusively digital happening. Each weekday from Monday, January 4th until Monday January 25th, SNOWBOARDER will highlight a different rider’s achievement, culminating with the ultimate praise of naming our 2016 Rider of the Year.